Mercuric chlorid and process of producing same.



P. KAUFLER & A. KLAGES. MERCURIG GHLORID AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

4 APPLICATION FILED AUG, 27, 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

4 wi 2 W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX KAUFLER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, AND AUGUST KLAGES, F SALBKE, GERMANY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27. 1912.

MERCURIC CHLORID AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 717,246.

. Prussia. and resident of S albkc. in the Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mercuric Chlorid and Processesof Producing Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

' Our invention relates to mercury bichlorid prepared by direct action of chlorin on mercury, aproduct being obtained which has special valuable properties.

Generally, mercury bichlorid is prepared by the wet process by decomposing mercury sulfate by means of sodium chlorid or hydrochloric acid and purifying the mercury bichlorid thus obtained by crystallization or sublimation. The preparation of mercury bichlorid by direct combination of mercury and chlorin, which process appears to be much more simple, has not proved of any technical yalue up to date. According to Thomsons investigations this is due to the fact that it is not possible to entirely avoid theformation of mercury monochlorid and a further reason may be this, that there is no material suitable for making the retorts in which the reaction is performed. Further. the process allows only of relatively small quantities of mercury and chlorin to be brought to reaction in the apparatus.

The process of preparing mercury bichlorid by sublimation by the dry way is lengthy. costly and detrimental to health. (See Huspratt. H andbuch dcr Tcchm'sohen Olzemz'e, Vol. VII. p. 586, 1900.) If, for instance, mercury is heated to boiling in a glass retort and chlorin introduced, it is im-.

possible. or only possible with excessive difficulties, to regulate the admission of chlorin so as to obtain a mercury bichlorid free from monochlorid; Indeed. the bichlorid which is distilled off, forms a solid yellowish mass, which very often contains chlorin and must be specially purified and pulverized in order to obtain a commercial product.

Now, according to this invention the process of burning mercury in a current of chlorin can be continuously carried on by constantly admitting fresh quantities of mercury to the chlorin flame burning above the boiling mercury level. This is performed by allowing the mercury which is preferably heated preliminarily by the chlorin flame to enter below the level of the boiling mercury. It is preferable to perform the process in a vessel of quartz or quartz glass or to use, in view of the high temperature, quartz admission tubes for both the mercury and the chlorin. When the process is carried on in this way, it is possible to continuously maintain the reaction which may be assisted by gentle heating, the whole reaction vessel being filled with a brilliant green flame. The bichlorid thus formed drips off as a thin liquid, colorless distillate which very soon solidifies.

According to a modification of our invention the mercury bichlorid formed by the burning process can be transformed into verization of the solid mass being thus avoided. For obtaining this result the mercury bichlorid vapors are allowed to escape from the retort to a large tower, in which they are chilled with cold air. By this treatment the vapors become instantaneously solidified in the form of fine voluminous needles which are absolutely pure and free from mercury monochlorid, especially if a small percentage of chlorin, generally not exceeding about 10 per cent, is mixed with the air current. The air current may be introduced into the apparatus by suction or by pressure. In the first case the suction existing in the whole apparatus secures safety of the operation. The mercury bichlorid thus obtained is chemically pure and of brilliant white color. It is tained by other operations. iVhile 1 liter of ordinary powdered mercury bichlorid weighs 2800 ex, 1 liter ofmercury bichlorid obtained by the present process weighs only 1400 g. This property is of special value, firstly because the mercury bichlorid thus obtained is specially suitable for dispensing in pharmacies, and secondly because, it is much more. rapidly soluble than the ordinary powdered commercial product. Therefore, the new results obtained by the present process are the following: 1. Production of mercury bichlorid in a continuous uniform 1 operation. 2. Obtaining of a brilliant a finely divided state, the troublesome pul- I much more voluminous than the product obtion or drying of the poisonous substance.

In the accompanying drawing the appa-- ratus, which is used in carrying out the process according to this invention, is represented in a side elevation partly in section. 1

a is the retort preferably consisting of quartz glass and provided with a chlorin admission tube ending above the level of the mercury 0 contained in the retort, and a mercury admission tube 0? terminatin below the'level of said mercury Both'tu es 6 and d, are also preferably made of quartz. As shown in the drawing-the mercury ad'- mission tube 03 can be dis osed within the chlorin admission tube 6, the mercury flowing through the tube (1 being thus preliminarily heated by the chlorinflame burningat the open endof the tube Z ,before said inercury enters the mass of mercury 0. Both tubes may be provided with suitable valves e and f for regulating the admission of'the chlorin and mercury, respectively. The retort is heated by suitable means. In the drawing a gas burner g. is shown, which may be of any desired construction. Other heat-.

40 ing devices, for instance'e-lectric heating appliances, may be used. The mercury bi-' chlorid formed in the retort escapes through the outlet tube I into a large tower c', which may be of any suitable material which is not attacked by the mercury bichlorid' vapors. In practice we have found itpreferable to use glazed acid-proof bricks) Into thi tower .air is admitted by means ot a tube is provided with\a suitable regulating" 5 valve Z, the air being preferably mixed, as

already explained, with a small percentage of chlorin, not exceeding say 10%. The tube 72 preferably terminates near the end of mixed with the mercurynbichlorid vapors and the latter are chilled and transformed into crystalline needles, as above explained. The deposited mercury bichlorid crystals may. be removed through a man-holepro- 0 vided with a suitable cover m.-

In order to prevent any loss of mercury bichlorid it is preferable, thoughnot absolutely necessary, to-provide-asecond tower 7&- connected to the tower 2' by means of a tube 55 0. The tower it may also be provided with a" man-hole and cover 7). In this tower, which may be made of clay, the last traces of mercury bichlorid are deposited. The apparatus is further provided with a tube 9 connected with a suitable suction dev ce. Generally it will be sufficient to connect the tube 9 with a chimney? As already explained, it is not absolutely necessary to provide suction devices, as the gases may also be introduced by pressure. 1 We do not limit ourselves to the details given, which may be varied in practice with out departing from the'scope of the invention. v I z What we claim is: a I 1. A process of preparing mercuryrbi chlorid, saidprocess consisting in separately introducing chlorin and mercury into a retort containing boilingmercury, the "mercury being introduced belowthelevel of the 55 p boiling mercury.

2. A process of preparing mercury bichlorid, said process consisting in separatelyintroducing chlorin and mercury into a retort containing boiling-mercury, the mercur 90 being introduced below the level of the boi ing mercury and preliminarily heated by the chlorin flame burning above the mercury level.

introducing chlorin and mercury into a retort containing boiling mercury and chilling the mercury 'bichlorid. vapors escaping from the retort with large quantities of cold air. "1'00 4. A process of preparing mercury ,bichlorid, said process consisting in separately introducing chlorin and mercury into a re-] tort containing boiling mercury, the mercury being introduced'below the level of the boiling mercury, and chilling the mercury bichlorid vapors escaping from the retort with. large quantities of cold air.

5; processof preparingmercury bi chlorid, said process consisting insepar'ately 11 0 introducingchlorin and mercury into a retort containing boilingmercury,the mercury being introduced below theleveliof the boiling mercury and preliminarily. heated by the chlorin fiame burning above the mercury '115 level and chilling the mercury bichlorid vapors escaping from the retort'withdarge' quantities of cold air. the outlet tube-7t.- Thusthe air becomes 6. A process of-preparing' mercury bi chlorid, said rocess consisting inlseparately 120 introduc-ingc lorin and mercury into a re tort containing boiling mercury and chilling the mercury bichlorid'vapors escaping from] the retort with large quantities of cold air', containing a small percentage of chlorin.

7. A process of preparing mercury bichlorid, said process consisting in separately introducing chlori,nand meroury into a retort containing boiling mercury, the mercury being introduced below the level of the boil- 130 3. A process of preparing-mercury bi- "chlorid, said process-consisting in'separately mg mercury, and chilling the mercury bichlorid vapors escaping from the retort with large quantities of cold. air, containing a small percentage of chlorin.

8. A process of preparing mercury bichlorid, said process'consisting in separately introducing chlorin and mercury into a retort containing boiling mercury, the mercury being introduced below the level of the boiling mercury and preliminarily heated by the chlorin flame burning above the mercury level andchilling the mercury bichlorid vapors escaping from the retort with large quantities of cold air containing a small percentage of chlorin.

9. As a new article of manufacture, chemically pure mercury bichlorid forming fine voluminous crystalline needles, one liter of which weighs substantially 1400 grams.

In. testimony, that We claim the foregoing as our invention, We have signed our names in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

DR. FELIX KAUFLER. AUGUST KLAGES.- Witnesses to the signature of Felix Kaufler:

AUGUST Favours, ADA M. BERGER. Witnesses to the signature of August Klages:

ERWIN KOSTENBADER, JoHANNEs P. Goons.

Gopiea of this patent may be obtained. 01 five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents, Washington, D. G, 

